Gun Companies Under Fire: What’s Their Next Move?

Firearms makers and gun-accessory manufacturers are certainly facing a hostile Senate and federal administration, but the battles aren’t all on the national stage. Several state governments are also making life difficult for firearms businesses, forcing gun and accessory makers in those states to consider moving their operations to friendlier locations. And some companies are beginning to push back, even if it costs them business. Examples:

In a nearby Shooter’s Log item, “What Would the World be Like Without Magpul and PMAG 30s?“, Dave Dolbee reports that “In their zeal to jump on the anti-gun agenda, lawmakers in Colorado have proposed banning the sale or manufacture of high-capacity magazines. The law would go well beyond Colorado’s borders by banning the manufacture of products to be sold out-of-state.”

In another Shooter’s Log item, “Gun Rights in Your State: The ILA and CRLDF,” CTD Scott points out, “State legislatures have more power than the federal government. Because of the smaller constituency and lobbying efforts, state governments can pass bills into laws with more ease than the U.S. Congress. So, you’re more likely to see restrictions on your gun rights come from your state than the federal government.”

Also in the Shooter’s Log, CTD Suzanne reports in the article, “Driving DPMS Out of Business: Minnesota House Bill 241,” Minnesota’s assault weapons ban would put DPMS out of business. On the company’s Facebook page, Adam Ballard, product manager at DPMS Panther Arms located in St. Cloud, said, “This bill would close our doors, put a great number of hard-working Americans out of work and infringe upon the rights of millions of lawful gun owners in Minnesota.”

However, some companies have begun pushing back against anti-gun state governments. In an item reported at GunAuction.com, competition-products retailer Creedmoor Sports has announced it will cease all operations at its Oceanside, California, location and relocate to the company’s newly acquired facilities in Anniston, Alabama. One cited reason: “Better business climate.”

Also in a report at GunAuction.com, Texas-based LaRue Tactical has changed its sales policy for state and local law-enforcement agencies. The company will only sell to local LE agencies what civilians in a given jurisdiction are allowed to own.

On the Olympic Arms Facebook page, Brian Schuetz, president of Olympic Arms, doubled down on LaRue’s policy and published this statement: “…Olympic Arms will no longer be doing business with the State of New York or any governmental entity or employee of such governmental entity within the State of New York — henceforth and until [the state’s gun-ban] legislation is repealed, and an apology made to the good people of the State of New York and the American people.” Find the full statement here.

Bob Reynolds, president of Templar Custom, Inc., has said, “We will not sell arms to agents of the state of New York that hold themselves to be ‘more equal’ than their citizens.” Read the full statement here.

EFI, LLC is a firearms manufacturer located in Inwood, West Virginia, that manufactures Heller Commemorative Rifles. Those rifles celebrate the 2008 decision by the United States Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller. The company’s government sales policy reads, in part: “The Federal Government and several states have enacted gun control laws that restrict the public from owning and possessing certain types of firearms. Law-enforcement agencies are typically exempt from these restrictions. EFI, LLC does not recognize law-enforcement exemptions to local, state, and federal gun control laws. If a product that we manufacture is not legal for a private citizen to own in a jurisdiction, we will not sell that product to a law-enforcement agency in that jurisdiction.”

We’re interested in your opinion:

If you live in one of the states that are further tightening gun laws (California and New York, to name two examples), will you still support the firearms-related companies that decamp for other states?

If you live in one of the states whose gun laws promote gun ownership, do you want companies such as Savage and Sturm Ruger (based in Connecticut) or Weatherby (based in California) to move your state?

Do you support LaRue Tactical, Olympic Arms, and these other companies in their efforts to restrict LE sales in anti-gun states? Do you favor most companies’ response to match LE goods to local restrictions, or do you think Olympic’s ban on sales to New York State agencies and personnel is the right move? Will their efforts make any difference? Should other manufacturers follow suit?

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The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!'s blog, "The Shooter's Log," is to provide information-not opinions-to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!

Comments (868)

Sam

I totally, 100% support LaRue Tactical, Olympic Arms, and these others..I am so sick of this shit!!..next time a crazy fuck stabs another person blame the knife ..sue the knife companies, and then make laws to ban owning a knife..what is wrong with our country? Putting people away for small amounts of drugs longer than petifiles and murderers. .makes me so sick what the U.S.A is becoming. As if any of these laws will stop a criminal from doing a crime..and we the responsible owners, are the ones who are getting punished. ..it is not fair!

NjNick

This Must Be Done By the Entire Firamrs manufacturing comunity. They must stand for there own survival! The rights of this wonderful nation are under fire! This is a real way to change thing in the favor of freedom… DON’T LET AMERICA BECOME A GOVERNMENT STATE UNFORTUNATELY LIKE MY HOME STAT NEW JERSEY. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO KEEP OUR OF OUR ABILITY TO BE FREE AND MAKE DECISION FOR OURSELVES! NO BORDER THAT FALLS WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATS SHOULD HINDER AN AMERICANS FREEDOM PERIOD! WE ALL NEED TO COME TO TERMS AND TAKE A PREVIOUS LACK OF EFFORT AS OUR OWN PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND BEGIN TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY WE LOVE FREE!

Lawrence Puchalski

I absolutely support companies leaving the states that restrict the sales of their products. And the pushback of refusing to sell weapons to LEOs or government agencies that restrict sales to citizens is also correct. We need more in the related industries to fight back. Ammo manufacturers could do a lot to push back here too.

art mauk

Savage and Sturm Ruger (based in Connecticut) or Weatherby (based in California) to move the state Pa.?
I definitely support the companies that stand up to legislators who want to restrict any constitutional right that we as Americans enjoy.
I have never been more disenchanted with this countries leadership as I am now. This country was founded on a government with checks and balances. Obama continues to do an end run around all of that. I have never seen a leadership that holds its citizens in such contempt. What does any government have to fear in a law abiding citizen armed? We have more to fear in being unarmed with our current leadership.
GOD BLESS AMERICA

Clyde Coon

If Obama and Feinstein and Biden demand that an entire industry and millions of jobs be immediately removed from this nation, that tells me the entire nation will suffer.
Obama wants to reduce us to third world nation status. He is about to wake the sleeping giant and get a boot up his ass. Us veterans didn’t risk owr lifes to give it up to a so called commander who never even spent one day in the millitary. Who has no background with deep roots in this land of the brave and free.

Zman

rb

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